State-owned enterprise (SOE) Zorya-Mashproekt (Mykolaiv) under a request of medical institutions of Mykolaiv city in relation to a threat of spreading the coronavirus disease COVID-19 has resumed production of medical oxygen halted early 2020 over the absence of demand, the press service of the Ukroboronprom state concern, which incorporates the enterprise, said on Friday.
The state concern said that the enterprise has all the necessary equipment for the production of oxygen and for many years provides its own needs with technical oxygen for welding.
Zorya-Mashproekt promptly responded to the request from doctors and invested its own funds in the supply of medical oxygen, since the certification production conditions require the introduction of certain measures to control the quality of medical oxygen. Zorya-Mashproekt can produce more than 50,000 cubic meters of medical oxygen per year, which is the most important for the country in these days. Now, we are looking for equipment for uninterrupted operation,” the press service said, citing Director of Zorya-Mashproekt Denys Hordienko.
The company said that in order to use it in the future and ensure uninterrupted operation of the medical oxygen line throughout the entire period of the pandemic, it is necessary to purchase backup equipment.
Currently, tender documents are being prepared for the purchase of a hygrometer, which, according to Ukroboronprom, will cost the company about UAH 200,000. Certification activities for the line are tentatively estimated at a similar amount.
Interpipe, the international vertically integrated pipe and wheel company, increased steel production by 4.8% in January-February of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, to 138,200 tonnes.
According to the company’s monthly report on Thursday, March 19, pipe production decreased by 32.9%, to 70,500 tonnes, railway wheel production increased by 20.3%, to 17,500 tonnes for two months.
In February, production of steel amounted to 72,900 tonnes, railway wheels amounted to 18,100 tonnes, pipes amounted to 38,400 tonnes.
The company increased sales of round steel billets by 36.3%, to 4,400 tonnes, railway wheels by 43.2%, to 39,600 tonnes and reduced pipe sales by 31.3%, to 66,800 tonnes in January-February of 2020.
It is also reported that pipes were sold in Europe (35%), MENA region (22%), Ukraine (18%), the American continent (13%), the CIS (10%) and other regions (2%). Railway wheels were sold in the CIS (47%), Europe (30%), Ukraine (14%), MENA region (3%), the U.S. continent (4%) and other regions (2%) in January-February of 2020.
According to the company’s statement, the increase in sales of OCTG (oil country tubular goods) in February compared with January was due to an increase in supplies to Africa and the CIS countries, as well as stable supplies to other regions. The main part of the growth in sales of gas and oil pipelines was supported by the countries of the Middle East, Turkey and Ukraine.
“Mechanical pipes showed lower productivity compared to January due to a slowdown in industrial activity in Europe. Negative dynamics of railway wheel sales in February (14.7% less compared to January) is mainly due to the elimination of finished products overstock, accumulated in 2019, which was observed in January,” reads the statement.
The Cabinet of Ministers does not plan to introduce limits for export of agricultural products from Ukraine, Deputy Minister for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine Taras Vysotsky has said.
“We constantly communicate with representatives of retail chains. Today, we held a meeting. Now, there are more than enough stocks. That is why the government does not plan to limit the export of agricultural products in any way,” he told Interfax-Ukraine.
As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address on Monday, March 16, proposed that the Cabinet of Ministers limits the export of food products from the country according to a list defined by the government.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal notes that in the context of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in the world there is serious competition between countries for personal protective equipment, medical equipment and even for doctors.
“In fact, we are faced with great competition between countries for personal protective means, equipment, even for human resources. Countries are competing even for doctors today,” he said in the Svoboda Slova Savika Shustera (Freedom of Speech of Savik Shuster) program on the air of Ukraine TV Channel on Friday night.
Shmyhal emphasized that the tense situation is now observed in many countries. There is the lack of drugs, masks, equipment.
Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP) will allocate about UAH 14 million to purchase high-priority equipment for hospitals and personal protective equipment in Cherkasy region.
MHP said on Facebook that on March 19 representatives of Cherkasy Regional State Administration and the agricultural holding developed an operational plan to counter the spread of coronavirus.
“To date, a commission has been created, a headquarters will be created in the coming days,” the company noted.
According to MHP, the priority task for today is the purchase of needed equipment for hospitals and personal protective means. In addition, the company will support the purchase of all necessary devices by involving its specialists from the logistics department.
“The local authorities and MHP are urging other businesses, whose facilities are located in Cherkasy region, to actively participate in reducing the risks of the spread of coronavirus,” MHP said.
MHP is the largest producer of poultry in Ukraine. It is also engaged in production of grains, sunflower oil, meat.
Ukraine may save $5-6 billion on energy imports in 2020 due to a 50-60% reduction in prices for energy products, which account for 20% of the country’s imports, NBU Deputy Governor Dmytro Sologub has said.
“Our balance of payments shows that there are both positive and negative influence factors in our current account. First of all, this is a fall in oil prices, energy products, which account for 20% of our imports, compared to $12 billion in 2019. A fall in oil prices, a decrease in gas demand may lead to the fact that this year we will save $5-6 billion,” he said at an online briefing on Friday.
Sologub said that the epidemiological situation has led to a reduction in tourist travel.
“Last year, tourist trips of Ukrainian citizens amounted to $8 billion, and we can also expect a significant reduction,” Sologub said.
According to him, the National Bank expects a slight decrease in food prices, which account for more than 50% in Ukrainian exports. To date, the fall in food prices is much lower than for energy.
“As we understand it, even in a crisis, especially when sitting at home, people will consume food and this is the last thing they will refuse. Therefore, we expect that the demand for our export products will preserve, and if it decreases, then insignificantly,” the banker said.
He said that now there is a decrease in money transfers to the country from Ukrainian citizens working abroad. The National Bank expects that the reduction in the indicator will also be less than in energy products.
“Most likely, this influence will be temporary, as economic recovery in Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy will lead to the resumption of remittances,” he said.
